Marty Protests Plan to Close Up to 23 Brooklyn Token Booths

On April 23rd, Marty protested the MTA's decision to close up to 23 Brooklyn token booths at the 15th Street/Prospect Park station. The station also happens to appear on the NYPD's list of underground crime hot spots. The MTA is planning on closing up to 62 token booths across the City that will save just $6 million over two years. "My message to the MTA is very simple - keep the booths open and keep your books open. Taking employees out of our subway system, when we are doing everything we can to protect the safety and security of our straphangers, makes absolutely no sense," Marty said. "These clerks have helped to reduce crime and have contributed to the renaissance of the New York City subway system. You just can't automate every job. The MTA needs to spend as much time ensuring the safety of its passengers as it does deflecting questions about how it spends its money." Since January, Marty has been actively fighting to keep all token booths open. The MTA's initial plan was to close 50 Brooklyn token booths. In March, the MTA placed the following Brooklyn token booths on its final proposed list of booth closures: 15th Street/Prospect Park (F), 18th Avenue (F), 22nd Avenue-Bay Parkway (N), 59th Street (R), 86th Street (R), 95th Street (R), Avenue N (F), Bedford-Nostrand Avenues (G), Bergen Street (F), Church Avenue (F), Ditmas Avenue (F), Flatbush Avenue (2), Fort Hamilton Parkway (N), Fort Hamilton Parkway (F), Greenpoint Avenue (G), Kings Highway (F), Kings Highway (Q), Lawrence Street (R), Myrtle-Willoughby Avenues (G), New Utrecht Avenue (N), Ocean Parkway (Q), Rockaway Avenue (C) and West 8th Street (Q). Councilman Bill de Blasio, NYPIRG Straphangers Campaign Staff Attorney Gene Russianoff and Transport Workers Union Local 100 Executive Board Member Virginia Sanders were also on hand.

Marty Slams MTA After Audits Reveal Fare Hikes Might Not Have Been Necessary

"It is reprehensible to think that the MTA wants to force overburdened Brooklynites to pay more while its bank account is apparently flush," Marty said. "Governor Pataki, Brooklynites are sick and tired of being taken for a ride by the MTA. During this fiscal crisis, we need to know how we spend every dollar. We demand respect, we pay the MTA's salaries and we expect accountability. The only ride we want from the MTA is one that is safe, inexpensive, clean and dependable."

Brooklyn Fights Back and Says Don't Close Our Firehouses!

On April 27th, hundreds of Brooklynites from all walks of life rallied at Borough Hall to protest Mayor Bloomberg's decision to close five Brooklyn firehouses - eight citywide. Marty, Senator Seymour Lachman, Assemblymember Joan Millman, Council-member Charles Barron, Councilmember Bill de Blasio, Council-member Yvette Clarke, who has been pressing this issue across the City, Councilmember James Davis, Councilmember Sara Gonzalez and Councilmember David Yassky rallied with moms and dads, seniors and students and several community organizations to protest this dangerous decision. "Closing firehouses may save a few dollars, but it could also cost lives. Especially in this day and age, we can never sacrifice safety for savings," Marty said. "Nobody can predict when we will need to call on our firefighters, but we can predict the potentially lethal consequences of closing these firehouses." Squad 252 in Bushwick, Engine Company 204 in Cobble Hill, Engine Company 278 in Sunset Park, Engine Company 212 in Williamsburg, and Engine Company 209 in Bedford-Stuyvesant have all been targeted for closure in Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Company Giving Blind Brooklynites the Chance to Work

On April 21st, Marty toured the New York City Industries for the Blind, a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) organization that employees more than 80 legally or totally blind people - including 46 Brooklynites. New York City Industries for the Blind employees work in everything from manufacturing to direct mail positions. "Only in Brooklyn! This is a perfect example of the importance of giving every person the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the betterment of our borough," Marty said. "These people are not only earning a paycheck, they are also earning more self-esteem and self-respect." The company makes a variety of products including brooms, mops, brushes, notepad binders, pilot relief bags (that are currently being used by U.S. pilots flying over Iraq) and patient securing straps (one of which was used to able help transport Marine Private Jessica Lynch) in its Borough Park facility. Over 70% of working-blind Americans have found it impossible to get a job. In fact, the company is looking to hire an additional 18-20 blind employees.

Marty Salutes Brooklyn's Commanding Police Officers

On April 24th, Marty welcomed the commanding officers from Brooklyn's 23 police precincts to Borough Hall in recognition for all of their fine work. "We are so lucky to have you and all of your officers working 24 hours a day to serve and protect our 2.5 million Brooklynites," Marty said. "Your dedication and determination to keeping our streets safe and secure is unsurpassed. Brooklyn is also blessed to have Brooklyn North Chief Joseph Cunneen and Brooklyn South Chief Joseph Fox leading our officers - you are the best!" The event was graciously underwritten by Con Edison.

Best of Brooklyn

Kudos to Councilman Al Vann who was honored on April 26th by the Medgar Evers College Community Council for his years of dedicated service to the college. On April 26th, a little rain wasn't enough to stop hundreds of Brooklynites from coming to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden for the 22nd Annual Sakura Matsuri festival. Marty helped Queen Mother Mamie Carter, who lives in Northern Crown Heights, celebrate her 100th birthday on April 26th. Marty asked the retired Kings County Hospital nurse what her secret was and she replied: "Clean living, belief in God and the air in Brooklyn!"